Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Students and families often have questions regarding financial aid and specific topics that apply to their particular situation. Below you will find frequently asked questions (FAQ's) by Millersville students. Read the information carefully and make sure to click on any links that may provide more detail. If you need further guidance, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

To be considered for Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Direct Loans, Federal Work-Study and/or a PHEAA State Grant, you must complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In addition, the federal government mandates that institutions verify at least 30% of its applicants. Students who are selected to undergo this process will be notified via email on how to obtain necessary Verification documents to submit to the Office of Financial Aid for review.

You must complete the FAFSA online at fafsa.ed.gov. Incoming Freshman will need to select the option to "Start a New FAFSA" while returning students who have completed a FAFSA in previous years will be able to log in and complete a Renewal FAFSA.

Do I need to be admitted to complete the FAFSA?

NO. You can fill out the FAFSA and list up to 10 schools to receive the information. However, to actually receive an award (estimated or actual) offer, you must be admitted to the university.

What are the deadlines or suggested date to complete the FAFSA?

March 15th is the deadline for full consideration for the following financial aid programs - Federal College Work Study and Federal SEOG, but you can technically fill out the FAFSA any time during the academic year. By meeting the March 15th deadline, you are ensuring you are considered eligible for all types of aid and also meeting the deadline of May 1st for the PHEAA State Grant.

When will I receive information about my application and awards?

FAFSA APPLICATION:

The University receives FAFSA’s approximately 7-10 days after it’s electronically submitted.

AWARD LETTERS & FINANCIAL AID PACKAGING:

Award Letters will be mailed to new incoming students mid-January and available online only to returning students in mid-June providing all outstanding documentation has been received.

Federal Direct Student Loans - The student's maximum eligibility will be indicated on the student's award letter. Award Letters will be mailed to new incoming students mid-January and available online only to returning students in mid-June.

Federal SEOG - If the student is eligible and funds are available, this award will appear on his/her financial aid award letter.

PHEAA PA State Grants - These awards are announced in mid-May by PHEAA in the form of an email, which directs the student to their myVILLE Student Portal > Finances > Financial Aid Awards, where students can view their updated award statement.

Why do I have to put my parents' tax information on the FAFSA, when they aren't paying for me to go to school?

The federal government expects both the parents and the student to contribute to the student's educational cost. Regardless of whether a parent will or will not contribute to your education, their income and assets must be reported and be used to determine your financial aid. Even if you do not live with your parents, if you are considered dependent by the federal government, you are required to provide parental information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There are questions for you to answer to determine if you are dependent or independent. You can also refer to the FAFSA for instructions regarding parental information.

What do I do if my parents refuse to provide information or sign the FAFSA? Can someone else sign it in their place?

No one other than your parent may legally sign the FAFSA (refer to the FAFSA to determine who is considered a parent). Unless your parent(s) provides the required information and sign the FAFSA, you cannot be considered for any need-based financial aid, including Federal Direct Subsidized Loans. If you find yourself in this situation, you should contact the Office of Financial Aid at 717-871-5100 to help you explore other possibilities.

I don't live with my parents, but I do live with another person/relative. Should I put their information on the FAFSA as my parent?

No one other than your parent may provide financial information or sign the FAFSA. If you reside with grandparents, aunt/uncle, or someone other than your parents, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 717-871-5100 as soon as possible to speak to a Financial Aid Counselor about your situation. If you have a legal guardianship or are an emancipated minor, as determined by a court in your state of residence and have documentation to prove that, you will be considered an independent student and will not need parental information on the FAFSA.

My parents make a lot of money so I won't qualify for financial aid ... should I still apply?

YES! Many families mistakenly think they don't qualify for aid and prevent themselves from receiving financial aid by failing to apply for it. In addition, there are sources of aid, such as low-interest loans - Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans - that are available regardless of need. It is wise to have something to fall back on, in case your family finds themselves in a financial crunch.

My parents are separated or divorced. Which parent do I put on the FAFSA?

You want to provide parent information for the parent with whom you reside, and/or supports you more than 51% of the time.

My biological parents are divorced, but the parent I live with is now re-married. Do I have to provide my step-parent's income and asset information on the FAFSA even if I am not supported by my step-parent?

YES! The parent that you live with the majority of the year should be putting their information on the FAFSA. If that parent has re-married (married to your step-parent) as of the date you complete the FAFSA, both your parent and step-parent must report their personal information such as date of birth and social security numbers, income and assets, etc.. They must report both of their information even if they weren't married during the tax year FAFSA is asking information from (i.e. filed separate tax returns).

Why should I create an FSA ID and password?

In order to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you and your parent (if you are a dependent student) must have an FSA ID (username and password).

The FSA ID is a username and password that must be used to log into certain U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID confirms your identity when you access your financial aid information and electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents such as your Master Promissory Note (MPN) for your Federal Direct Student Loans.

To receive an award statement, the student must first complete the FAFSA. Once Millersville University has received information from the FAFSA, the following information will tell you when to expect your award statement to be ready:

INCOMING FRESHMAN STUDENTS:

For students who are NOT currently enrolled at Millersville University, you should expect to receive your initial letter in late-January/early-February, provided you have already been admitted to the university and have a completed FAFSA on file. Letters will continue to be sent as we receive FAFSAs from students.

Students who have NOT paid the confirmation fee will receive the award statement in the mail with an actual award amount or an estimated award.

If an estimated award statement is received, that means that we will need additional documentation from you to complete your record and your financial aid package is subject to change.

We will not request or require that documentation until you have paid a confirmation fee.

Students who HAVE already paid the confirmation fee will receive the award statement in the mail with an actual award amount or an estimated award.

If an estimated award statement is received, that means that we will need additional documentation from you to complete your record and your financial aid package is subject to change.

Until you have completed all outstanding financial aid requirements, aid will not post on your account for the Office of Student Accounts (OSA) to apply to your bill.

TRANSFER STUDENTS:

For students who are NOT currently enrolled at Millersville University and have already paid the confirmation fee, you will receive your award letter by mail. If your awards are listed as "estimated" we require additional documentation from you. Please review and complete your Financial Aid Requirements through your myVILLE Student Portal under the "Finances" tab.

Once the student is enrolled at Millersville University, all notification of financial aid awards will come via email and request they check their myVILLE Student Portal under the "Finances" tab.

RETURNING STUDENTS: For students who ARE currently enrolled at Millersville University, your award statements will not be ready until approximately late-June of each year. You will receive an email from the Office of Financial Aid indicating that your financial aid award is ready and you can check your myVILLE Student Portal under the "Finances" tab to view the awards.

In order to have your financial aid award ready by late-June, you must have completed the FAFSA and any required documentation. You can view your required documentation by logging into your myVILLE Student Portal under the "Finances" tab.

You must also be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to be eligible. If you are not maintaining SAP, you will NOT receive information about your award statement but will receive an email from our office requesting that you check your eligibility on your MAX account.

The reason students will not receive award information until late-June is because all students must be reviewed to see if they are making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). All students have to be reviewed once a year; even if they did not receive federal aid. Millersville reviews SAP after Spring semester grades are posted to be sure the student passed enough credits to maintain financial aid eligibility. For more information on this, please see our Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy.

I have financial aid, why does it look like I have a balance due on my account?

Federal regulations prohibit financial aid from paying to a student's account too before the semester begins. The earliest any federal grants, state grants, or loans will credit to a student's account is after the end of the add/drop period of the semester (usually the first week of classes). Please be aware, as long as all aid is processed and all student requirements have been completed, the Office of Student Accounts (OSA) will be able to see the funds and apply it as a credit towards your bill, even though the money has not yet paid to the account.

If your financial aid is enough to cover the bill in full or you are expecting a refund (your financial aid exceeds your bill), there is nothing further you need to do. To confirm your aid is enough to cover your bill contact the Office of Student Accounts (OSA).

If you still owe a balance after all of your aid has been applied (your financial aid does not fully cover your bill), then you will need to pay that balance before your bill can be resolved.

If you cannot pay your bill and do not have enough financial aid to cover it, please see our options for obtaining additional financial aid.

If you are applying for additional aid, you must allow at least 2-3 weeks to process it before the Office of Student Accounts can see it and you can use it as a credit.

If you apply after August 1 (for fall) or December 1 (for spring), the additional aid you applied for may not be processed in time for your bill and you risk losing your schedule for non-payment.

They can borrow any amount, up to the cost of your education. The loan is in your parent's name and they are solely responsible to repay the loan.

If they are denied for any reason, the student may borrow more money in Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans. A copy of the denial will automatically be forwarded to the Office of Financial Aid. Once we have the denial, we assume the student wishes to borrow the maximum amount unless we are notified otherwise. See the section on Federal Direct Loans to determine the maximum amount the student can borrow additionally.

Students who are independent are automatically eligible for the additional Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans.

PRIVATE / ALTERNATIVE LOANS:

If you are an independent undergraduate, graduate, post-baccalaureate certification student or a dependent undergraduate student whose parents do not wish to borrow a loan in their name and would prefer you be responsible for the loan repayment, you can apply for a Private/Alternative Loan.

The loan is in the student's name and most students (depending on age and credit history) will likely need a credit-worthy co-signer.

A co-signer can be a parent or anyone who wishes to co-sign the loan (share responsibility for repayment if you do not keep up your repayment terms).

If you are an independent student, you may not need a cosigner. Check the requirements for each individual loan.

There are federal financial aid and private/alternative loans available during the Summer session. Millersville University considers the Academic Year to include Summer/Fall/Spring (in that order). For example, the 2018-2019 Academic Year consists of Summer 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019.

You MUST fill out a Summer Financial Aid Application (in addition to the FAFSA) in order to receive any financial aid for Summer. These forms are available after February 15 (prior to the summer session) through MAX. If you do not fill out a Summer Financial Aid Application, you will not receive any financial aid in the Summer.

FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS:

If you request to use your Federal Direct Loan amounts in the Summer terms, this will reduce the amount you will receive during the Fall and Spring semesters. The yearly amount will be divided among the three semesters - summer, fall, and spring.

You can choose to borrow "just enough to cover your bill" for summer, and your remaining loans will then be equally divided between the Fall and Spring semesters.

You must be enrolled for at least 6 credits throughout the summer to receive a Federal Direct Loan.

FEDERAL DIRECT PARENT PLUS LOANS:

A FAFSA must be on file for the student

The parent chooses the loan period during the application process.

If the loan is indented for summer, the parent must select the summer loan period.

The parent can also choose to select a loan period for the entire year. If the parent chooses this option the total loan amount will be divided equally among the three semesters.

FEDERAL PELL GRANT:

If you are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant, it will automatically be awarded to you; you do not need to request it. Receiving a Pell Grant in the Summer 2018 will not have an impact on your Pell Grant awards for Fall 2018 or Spring 2019, so long as you meet all other criteria.

PA STATE GRANT (PHEAA):

If you choose to use a PA State Grant for the Summer session, you must fill out a separate application, which is available only online at www.pheaa.org.

There are specific enrollment requirements you must meet in order to receive a PA State Grant in the Summer.

You must be enrolled for at least 6 credits over a period of at least 8 weeks, and at least 50% of these credits must be in-classroom.

You are only permitted to have 8 full-time semesters of the PA State Grant, so using this grant during the summer may reduce your total number of Fall/Spring award payments.

If you choose a fall/spring (August-May); fall only (August-December); spring only(January - May) loan period on your application, your loan will default to the period selected and will not be applied to your summer bill

If you choose a summer/fall/spring loan period your entire loan amount will be divided among the three semesters.

If you are a part-time student (less than 12 credits during the Spring semester following the Winter session you enrolled) there may be aid available to you retroactively. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for specific information regarding this.

Students can apply for a Private/Alternative Loan to cover the cost of winter courses.

The maximum loan amount you can borrow for winter will depend on the number of credits you are enrolled

The financial information on my FAFSA is significantly different from our current financial situation. Is there anything the Office of Financial Aid can do to help me qualify for additional aid?

The Office of Financial Aid can review your account to determine if adjustments to your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) that was determined by the FAFSA application can be made.

This review does not always result in changes significant enough to increase your current financial aid award and/or reduce your bill with the Office of Student Accounts (OSA).

Students must have a completed FAFSA application on file.

Before reviewing any documentation for Special Conditions or Professional Judgements we must first verify that the current information on your FAFSA is accurate. All students/parents requesting to have their account re-evaluated must first complete the Verification process.

Special Circumstances will only be considered up to 2 times for each family while the student is enrolled at Millersville.

Below are examples of reasons we may be able to review your account:

SPECIAL CONDITIONS:

If your family experiences a change in income due to an unusual circumstance (loss of job, permanent reduction of hours, separation or divorce, death in the immediate family) contact the Office of Financial Aid and ask how to move forward with this re-evaluation process.

PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT:

If there is a reduction in untaxed income because your child support will stop for any children in your household, if your family has high non-reimbursed medical expenses, or if your parent lost a job and took money out of their pension or retirement plan as a one-time payment to help cover expenses, your financial aid eligibility may be re-evaluated.

Disclaimer:Additional aid being awarded through a Special Conditions or Professional Judgement is NOT guaranteed, and additional aid offered (if any) may not be enough to drastically change the balance due to the school. Therefore it is recommended that you have a plan in place to cover any outstanding balance due to the university either through aParent Plus Loan, Private/Alternative Loan, or a Payment Plan through the Office of Student Accounts (OSA). If you are awarded additional aid after your Special Conditions or Professional Judgement has been reviewed, we can always reduce any previous loan funds you have applied for.

Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for further information; and/or to be added to the Special Conditions/Professional Judgement Waitlist.

What is the difference between a Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan?

A student can receive a combination of both Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans in an Academic Year. Not all students will qualify for both loan types. The type of loan that is offered to the student will be based on financial need; the yearly amount the student can receive will be based on their grade level, enrollment, and aggregate loan limits. Please refer to sections titled: Dependent / Independent Student Yearly Loan Limits, and Aggregate Lifetime Loan Limits available here.

Interest rates are subject to change July 1 each year for new loans borrowed.

ADDITIONAL QUICK FACTS:

Both loan types charge an Origination Fee

1.066% for loans disbursed from October 1, 2017 - September 30, 2017; 1.062% for loans disbursed from October 1, 2018 - September 30, 2019. (Origination fees are subject to change July 1 each year).

Repayment is deferred while the student is enrolled and taking at least 6 credits per semester as well as the six month grace period given after you have graduated or dropped below six credits.

If you received a Direct Subsidized Loan that was first disbursed between July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2014, you will be responsible for paying any interest that accrues during your grace period.

If you choose not to pay the interest that accrues during your grace period, the interest will be added to your principal balance.

Students can choose to pay interest on the Unsubsidized Loan while in school repayment begins 6 months after graduation or from the date the student ceases to be enrolled in at least 6 credits.

If you choose not to pay the interest while you are in school and during grace periods, your interest will accrue (accumulate) and be capitalized (that is, your interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan).

How do I accept, reduce or cancel the Federal Direct Student Loans offered to me?

Students may cancel all or a portion of the loan by submitting a loan change form. Contact the Office of Financial Aid to cancel or reduce the loan. You can also submit the Loan Change Form and return it to the Office of Financial Aid, or submit a Loan Change Form online (both are available online through our Financial Aid Forms under Quick Links to the left).

Why is the loan amount that paid less than my awarded loan amount?

Federal law permits that the Department of Education (the lender) to withhold origination fees from any federal loan. This means the amount that actually pays to the university is less than what the student is borrowing. This is referred to as an Origination Fee. Origination Fees are subject to change October 1 of each year.

Example: If a student is awarded $1,750 for the fall semester in a Subsidized Loan, only $1,732 will pay into the university after fees have been taken out.

Federal Community Service / Work-Study is a federal program providing part-time employment for eligible college students. Awards are need-based and are part of your financial aid package.

The Federal Work-Study program does not guarantee you a job. It gives you an opportunity to earn an award. Community service based jobs are eligible for the Federal Work Study program. Students can complete community services projects and be paid for them. Contact the Community Service Office at 717-871-7655 or refer to the Community Service website.

How do I obtain a job if I am awarded Federal Work-Study?

Students who have been awarded Federal Work-Study do NOT get placed in jobs.

Students may choose to work on campus positions, or off-campus at a nonprofit community organization.

Volunteer Central maintains up-to-date information on many community organizations that welcome Community Work-Study students, as well as additional resources to assist you in finding a volunteer position that meets your interests and schedule.

If you are interested in participating in Community Service and Federal Work-Study Program Info and Checklist here.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) protects the confidentiality of student records.

If a student would like their financial aid information released to another individual and/or agency, including parents, the student must complete the "Authorization to Release Information Form" and submit it to the Office of Financial Aid.

Keep copies of all your applications as well as any letters you send to the various agencies.

Keep a copy of your Federal income tax forms each year (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, all W-2 forms).

These are used to help you complete the FAFSA application and may be needed for the verification process.

If I withdraw from a class will it affect my financial aid?

No matter if you receive financial aid during the period you withdrew from your class, it may affect your future financial aid awards. Please see our policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress.

If you withdraw from all classes, your financial aid may have to be adjusted - please see our policy on Withdrawing.

If I repeat a class will it affect my financial aid?

If you repeat a course you have previously earned a passing grade in (passing for financial aid purposes includes A, B, C, D or S), it may affect your future financial aid awards. Please see our policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress and Repeat Courses.

I was selected for Verification, what does that mean?

The U.S. Department of Education requires that 30% of all students who apply for financial aid must be verified. Verification is the process to make sure that the information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is accurate. Some applications are selected because of inconsistent information, while others are randomly selected. Any student who is selected will be notified by the Office of Financial Aid.

Once all requested documentation has been received, the Office of Financial Aid will compare the information submitted to the FAFSA and correct any errors.

Any corrections made will generate a new Student Aid Report (SAR).

After the verification process is complete, the student will be notified of his/her financial aid eligibility.

Failure to complete the verification process will prohibit you from receiving any federal financial aid for the academic year for which you are applying.

My awards are based on full-time enrollment (12+ credits), but I am taking less than 12. Since my enrollment has changed, is there anything that I need to do for financial aid?

The Office of Financial Aid requests that you notify us by completing the Change of Enrollment form. This will allow us to adjust your financial aid based on your reported enrollment status. Failure to provide this information may delay the disbursement of your financial aid.

This form is available for online submission through our Financial Aid Forms (under Quick Links to the left).

If you cannot complete the form online, please contact the Office of Financial Aid to complete the form over the phone or in-person.

What is Identity Theft and should I be concerned about it?

Identity theft is a serious crime and can affect anyone. It occurs when someone uses your personal information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. As with any crime, you cannot completely control whether you will become a victim. But according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, you can minimize your risk by managing your personal information cautiously. Please see Financial Aid Forms to download information on identity theft.

I am studying abroad for the semester, what do I need to do for financial aid?

Please note that if you need funds early to pay for deposits or airfare, you need to make sure you have other funding options to cover these costs until your financial aid disburses.

Federal funds will disburse as they normally would at the end of the add/drop period of each semester to your account at Millersville University and cannot be disbursed early.

If no balance is due to the Office of Student Accounts (OSA), then a refund will be issued to you at that time.

Be aware that any balance owed to the Office of Student Accounts (OSA) will be deducted before a refund is sent to you.

Any refund you receive from the Office of Student Accounts will be sent to your home address in a check made payable to you, the student; unless you have signed up for Direct Deposit.

It is possible that the check will not arrive until after you have embarked on your trip. Therefore, it is recommended that you sign up for Direct Deposit with OSA and/or that you should make any necessary arrangements for someone else to deposit/negotiate your check for you.

If you have any questions, contact the Office of Financial Aid at (717) 871-5100.

I am planning to live off-campus in an apartment. How does that affect my financial aid?

Off-campus housing is considered any housing where the student is not residing with his/her parents and is not paying Millersville University for housing.

One main difference of living Off-campus compared to living On-campus is that Millersville University does not bill you for housing and will not bill you for a meal plan unless you choose to have one. Since you are not billed for housing or a meal plan by Millersville University, you will only owe the university the cost of your tuition and fees.

Your financial aid awards will remain the same as though you were living on-campus.

Since your bill is lower, you would receive the remaining amount of money in a refund check to use for your off-campus living expenses (rent, utilities, food, etc.) once your financial aid has disbursed/paid to your Millersville University account.

For financial aid purposes, we consider the cost of living off-campus slightly higher than living on-campus. For more information, see our webpage on Cost of Education.

If you have a PA State Grant through PHEAA, you are required to report your local (Off-campus) address to us.

You can easily do this by updating your address in your myVILLE Student Portal through your MAX Home (under Personal Information) - be sure to indicate the appropriate dates.

If you do not report your address in your myVILLE Student Portal, you will be required to complete a form giving us your local address, which may prevent the payment of your PA State Grant to your student account.